Opinionated single mum to two amazing boys! Some opinions may be popular, some not, but I will own my opinions, whether people agree or not.

Monday, 21 February 2011

The Hijab Discussion, Part 2

I had been planning on leaving this alone for awhile and moving on to something else, but I read something tonight that just had me seething and I just couldn't let it go. This person, a Muslim woman, said (and I quote) about wearing hijab: "come on guys, make her wear it!"

Seriously? I mean, seriously?!?

Anyone that advocates making an adult do something that they should get a choice in I have a very, very hard time taking seriously. While I do agree that a pious, believing Muslim woman should choose to wear hijab, that's exactly it. They should CHOOSE to wear hijab.

Muslim women living in western society have enough problems without another Muslim woman coming along stating that they HAVE to wear it, and stating that someone (usually a man) should MAKE the woman wear it. The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught (and it is in the Qur'an) that there is no compulsion in religion. So, this being said (that there is no compulsion in religion, as given to us in the Qur'an by Allah (سبحانه وتعالى‎) or as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) where do we, who are not prophets and most definitely not god, get off telling people that they HAVE to wear hijab or niqaab?

This is how western society has come to, in some cases, view Muslims and Islam as backwards and violent. Because some choose to have this idea that it can be forced. And then some men who claim to be Muslim (but most definitely don't show it) then abuse and/or kill their daughters or wives because they don't want to wear it.

Hijab is a CHOICE. While the Noble Qur'an tells us that we should, it also tells us that there is no compulsion in religion. Should is not synonymous with must.

That's exactly it, Reyhana - it should come from within. To wear hijab, or to do anything, without the heart being truly in it is an exercise in futility. Insha Allah the sisters that don't wear it will one day wear it of their own volition, but to force them to do it runs the risk of them rejecting Islam all together, much as I rejecting Christianity because it was something completely forced on me.